Sri Lanka’s journey in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 has been a challenging one. Despite entering the tournament with high hopes, they were knocked out in the group stages after a series of tough losses.The Sri Lankan women’s team, captained by Chamari Athapaththu, faced significant hurdles in the group stage. They began their campaign with a defeat to Pakistan, followed by another loss to the reigning champions, Australia. These early setbacks placed immense pressure on the team, making every subsequent match a must-win situation.
Historically, Sri Lanka has had a mixed record in Women’s T20 World Cups. While they have shown glimpses of brilliance, including their famous win over India in past tournaments, consistency has been a major challenge. The team often enters global tournaments as underdogs, struggling against the stronger cricketing nations. Their batting has been particularly inconsistent, and despite having world-class players like Athapaththu, the team has struggled to build partnerships that can anchor innings in the high-pressure environment of a World Cup.
Leading up to the 2024 World Cup, Sri Lanka earned their spot through their performance in the ICC Women’s Championship and T20 rankings. They also played in several warm-up matches, which, though helpful in getting some match practice, exposed the weaknesses in their lineup. Sri Lanka’s squad is a blend of experienced players and emerging talent, but their lack of depth and experience compared to top-tier teams like Australia and England was evident throughout the tournament.
One of the highlights for Sri Lanka in recent years has been the leadership of Chamari Athapaththu, who is not only their captain but also their most reliable batter. Her aggressive style of play has often been a lifeline for the team, but in this tournament, her performances couldn’t carry Sri Lanka through the tough competition. The bowling department, led by veterans like Inoka Ranaweera, has occasionally shown promise but lacked the firepower to consistently take on world-class batters.
Overall, Sri Lanka’s exit from the T20 World Cup 2024 was a disappointment but not entirely unexpected given their form and the stiff competition in their group. Going forward, the team will need to focus on rebuilding, improving their batting depth, and finding ways to handle pressure situations better if they aim to compete at the highest level in future tournaments.
